Property Value

Use the KeyChar property to sample keystrokes at run time and to modify keystrokes under special run-time circumstances. For example, you can use KeyChar to disable non-numeric keypresses when the user enters a ZIP code, change all alphabetical keypresses to uppercase in a data entry field, or monitor the keyboard or other key input device for specific key combinations.

You can get or set the following keys:

a-z, A-Z.

CTRL.

Punctuation marks.

Number keys, both across the top of the keyboard and on the numeric keypad.

ENTER.

You cannot get or set the following keys:

The TAB key.

INSERT and DELETE.

HOME.

END.

PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN.

F1-F2.

ALT.

Arrow keys.

Note

For information about how to detect any of the non-character keys mentioned above, see the KeyEventArgs class.

The following example creates a TextBox control. The keypressed method uses the KeyChar property to check whether the ENTER key pressed. If the ENTER key is pressed, the Handled property is set to true, which indicates the event is handled.